Before the Last Snow

Chapter 19: ¿Las cosas mejoraron? (did things get better?)

Although Lurnara had tried her best to convince the three tensed beings and they had agreed, a cloud of doubt still roamed above her and the city. The grey hues mixed with the brush strokes of grief and traumas that evening (un)fortunately lasted longer than they needed to. The birds were not chirping, the grass frozen, and the food was getting colder by the minute.

"Crystal! Nebula! Hedwig! Come and eat, already," Lurnara shouted, out of despair.

She heard footsteps soon. Nebula came first. Hedwig and Crystal followed, together, unwillingly. Crystal glanced at him, his eyes wavered to the side of the same staircase that they first played upon. She knew what he was thinking of. She was thinking of the same, but she wouldn't admit it by smiling at him, but she did smile at him. And he smiled back. Their fingers almost intertwined, the tip of the nails yearning to meet, the corners of their thumbs waiting to touch. And then, almost knowingly, Crystal missed a step and Hedwig caught her before it might have been too late. 

They couldn't smile. Their smiles were touching each other's lips.

Of course, Lurnara saw this and Nebula saw this and all the servants saw this and the Elder Royals saw this. Different sets of expressions were on their faces and most of them portrayed what they truly felt- Nebula was happy, the servants were shocked, the Elder Royals were disgusted and joyful, but Lurnara was heartbroken.

She loved one of them, or perhaps both, too much. Her heart filled with agony as she crumpled her strings to relieve. "I suppose you two have already made up. That's good to know," she said, but it wasn't good to know, it should have been, but it wasn't. Was she a bad friend? No, she was too good. Too good for this world.

"Y-yes. I suppose I have forgiven some things," Crystal answered, surprised with how confidently she said those words.

"Oh, for the love of magic! What is going on between the two of you? Crystal, my sweet daughter, is this the man you wish to love," Aquata questioned before her husband could.

"Mother, there's no need to worry so much. What is wrong with Hedwig? He's a fine man!"

"Oh, tell your sister something Nebula! She cannot see what is wrong with loving a non-royal!"

Nebula, although was on sour terms with her sister, knew better than to keep being oppressed by her parents. No more. No more. Not anymore.

"There's nothing to say! He is a fine man, mother! I understand that he seems suspicious to you because of his ability to touch Crystal, but maybe it's a sign- they're meant to be together."

It hit Lurnara as if someone had taken an ice pick and stabbed it in her lungs. She found it hard to believe that she wasn't meant to be with Crystal or that she didn't have a fling with Hedwig. She found it hard to breathe, to smile, to not cry, to not break down into tears sobbing like a child. She found existing very hard, too. 

"What is this nonsense? Stop it at once, Nebula. How dare you speak against our opinions!" Alvaro, the father spoke. His voice almost cracking at the end.

"No! I have had enough of listening to you two. Do this and not that. Wear this and not that. Can you let me live my life! Let me be."

"Look what the company of such vile friends has done to you both!" He asserted.

"No. This is not them. This is no one but me. It took me way too long to stand up to you both and Lexon kept telling me, but I should have done this earlier. I cannot let you make decisions for me the entire time. You need to understand that I am an individual person and I am the Queen now. I make decisions for myself and the entire Kingdom. Not you!"

"I never thought I'd see such a tragic day, Nebula! You mustn't forget you are not the Queen yet. Not until you get married to Lexon."

"Seriously? Is this how low you wish to stoop, Father? Well, you asked for this, not me."

He gave a confused look as Nebula hastily made her way to Crystal.

"Crystal. Will you, my elder sister, bless me so I can wed the man of my life?"

"Nebula, what are you doing?"

"I need someone Royal who is older than me to bless me so I can arrange the wedding. It got postponed, remember? I cannot marry Lexon until I am blessed."

"Nebul-"

"Crystal, please. Do this one last thing for me."

"Don't you ever say it's the last thing, you silly fool. Come here, now."

She pulled Nebula into a hug and although none of them could feel each other, this was the closest they had ever gotten to touching each other, in a long time.

"I am so sorry, Crystal. I never should have done that to you."

"It's fine. My mood swings are just bad. I should have understood how guilty you must have felt and that you are not a bad person, Neb."

"Thank you. I love you, Crys."

"Yes, yes. No need to get very emotional now. Do you want my blessings or not?"

Nebula wiped her tears as she chuckled.

"I, Crystal Moonlander, the eldest daughter of Alvaro and Aquata Moonlander, hereby bless you with the permission to marry Lexon, the King of Celions."

"Thank you. I will get the arrangements started soon, Crys. Things will get better, now."

"Yes, I suppose they will." Crystal said, while softly glancing at Hedwig.

"Now, father, mother. I hope you two are able to make it to the wedding. If not, that's absolutely fine too. Hedwig, Crystal, you both may love without any boundaries now. Just keep her safe, Hedwig."

"Madam Crystal, I assure you, I will take care of Crystal and love her so much that she'll never know what pain is."

"Good," Nebula and Crystal said together and then giggled.

By the time they gathered around to have dinner, the Elder Royals had retired to their quarters and had left. Lurnara was trying to be normal.

"Come now, shall we have dinner?"

"Yes, please. The entire drama today has made me go hungry. I could eat the entire table filled with delicacies!" Lurnara yelled.

"Well, then. First, a toast to love," Nebula spoke.

"Yeah!"

As they ate with joy and passed each other desserts, fruits, and wine glasses, Nebula worried about the decision she had taken. Lexon had not yet returned. The wedding arrangements were too many. Invitations. The dress alterations. Everything!

"Lurnara, could you do me a favor, dear?"

"Sure."

"My heart worries about Lexon's whereabouts. If you could look for him, that would be wonderful!"

"I can go with her if need be." Hedwig jumped into the conversation.

"No. There is no need. You should spend time with Crystal. Young couples must stay with each other as long as possible. I will go, Nebula."

"Thank you so so much!"

Crystal, who had been quiet the entire time was unaware of the feelings growing in Lurnara's heart. She thought it best to give Lurnara some time to think. Perhaps, it was not the best idea.

The rest of the evening echoed with laughter, felt like wet smiling tears, and smelled of warmth. It was a beautiful day for some, rather sad for others. But, the coming days would be sad for most. The truth.

Hey! So, yeah, this was super long. Thank you for reading it. BOOM scenes are happening soon. You're gonna meet Affron, Crystal and Neb's ex. You're gonna see Hedwig being confronted and ierbgjrjoikebgie it's all a mess.